FAAN reopens Benin airport, regrets closure

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi
| credits: File copy 

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has expressed regrets over the activities that led to the closure of the Benin Airport by the Edo State Government on Tuesday.

A statement from the Edo State House quoted the Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, as saying this when he visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City on Wednesday.

He was quoted to have said, “We deeply regret the events of yesterday (Tuesday) and we will like to find out how we can avoid a situation like this arising in the future because it is neither in the interest of FAAN, nor in the interest of the Edo State Government for the airport to be closed down, as there was a lot of hardship and serious economic consequences arising from the shutdown.

“I want to assure your Excellency that FAAN is a good corporate citizen; I am convinced that there was a misunderstanding and I want to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding so that it does not happen again.

“If we have any obligations, we will meet them; and I hope that in the future, if there are issues of misunderstanding, we will be able to talk about them quickly without them leading to delays and inconveniences to the public.”

Uriesi added that the agency had the desire to remain a good corporate citizen and partner with the state government to deliver services to the people of Edo State.

In his response, Oshiomhole noted that the tax law was a federal law, which the state government was only trying to implement.

He said FAAN allegedly defaulted on the Pay As You Earn tax, which even the President and governors used to pay.

http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/faan-reopens-benin-airport-regrets-closure
Culled from Punch